Archbishop Alexander K. Sample was born on
November 7, 1960 in Kalispell, MT, to Alexander K. Sample, Jr.,
(deceased) and to Joyce V. Sample.He graduated from Bishop Gorman High
School, Las Vegas, NV, in 1978.He earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 1982 and a Master of
Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 1984, both from
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI.

He completed studies in Philosophy at the
College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN in 1986.He then studied at the Pontifical
College Josephinum Seminary in Columbus, OH, where he earned a
Master of Divinity degree in 1990.He was ordained a priest at St.
Peter Cathedral in Marquette, MI on June 1, 1990.

Father Sample served as Associate Pastor at
St. Peter Cathedral from 1990 until 1993.From 1993 until 1994 he served as
Pastor at St. George Parish, Bark River, MI, at Sacred Heart
Parish in Schaffer, MI and at St. Michael Parish in Perronville,
MI.He studied Canon Law at the
Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) in
Rome from 1994 until 1996.

From 1996 – 2006, Father Sample served in
the Diocese of Marquette as Chancellor, Director of Ministry and
Priest Personnel, as member of the College of Consultors, and as
Executive Director of the Bishop Baraga Association.Other offices held in this time
period were: Director of Ongoing Formation of Priests, Defender
of the Bond in the Diocesan Tribunal, Promoter of Justice for
the Diocesan Tribunal, Judge for the Tribunal, Vice-Postulator
for the Cause of Bishop Frederic Baraga, Diocesan Chaplain to
the Knights of Columbus and as a Member of the Diocesan Review
Board for the Protection of Children and Young People.From 1996 – 2006, Father Sample was
also the Canonical Pastor of St. Christopher Parish in
Marquette.

He was appointed Bishop of Marquette on
December 13, 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI, and was ordained a
Bishop on January 25, 2006 at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette.

He was appointed the eleventh Archbishop of
Portland in Oregon on January 29, 2013, and was installed at a
Mass of Installation on April 2, 2013 held at the Chiles Center
on the campus of the University of Portland.

Member of the Board of Directors, Catholic Charities
of Western Oregon

Member of the Oregon Catholic Conference

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - Previous
Committees:

Consultant to the USCCB Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry

Member of the USCCB Committee for the 2010 Spring Assembly

Other Episcopal Services: Visitator for the
Apostolic Visitation of U.S. Seminaries (2005 - 2006)Member of the Michigan
Catholic Conference Board of Directors (2006 - 2013)Member of Catholic Social
Services of the Upper Peninsula Board of Directors(2006 - 2013)Member of the
Board of Directors of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (LaCrosse, WI)
(2009 - )
Member of Sacred Heart Seminary (Detroit) Board of Trustees (2010 -
2013)Member of the Board, Liturgical Institute, San Francisco (2014
- Present)